Dark clouds pressed down on the mountaintops, and the spiritual light rising from the twelve peaks of the Bright Star Sect was like jade pillars supporting the sky that was about to collapse.
The wind howled as the spiritual energy brought forth bursts with roars, resounding all over the place.
A flying sword leaving a golden light trail came from the side peak.
On the flying sword, Zu Lingzhi looked at the tribulation clouds gathering above the Heavenly Pavilion, and she felt more and more confused.
She couldn't figure out the purpose of the demonic cultivators.Magical Poison Sect and Hedonistic Sect came in full force. At first glance, they seemed to be preparing to break through the Bright Star Sect's formation with a surprise attack.
However, most of the demonic cultivators she saw along the way were only at the Foundation Building or Core Formation stage. There were only a few Nascent Soul-stage cultivators.
It was undeniable that the demonic cultivators had indeed caught Bright Star Sect off guard, and most of them were Parasite cultivators who were hiding in the dark, using their parasites to attack the mountain.
Although the low-level disciples of the sect might suffer heavy casualties, it could not shake the foundation of the Bright Star Sect at all, nor could it be a threat to the Elders of the sect.
In other words, this group of people was only feinting the attack.
The demonic cultivator definitely had another purpose.
Was it Ye Anping?Or was it...
Zu Lingzhi narrowed her eyes and looked at the Nascent Soul tribulation cloud above the Heavenly Pavilion. She suddenly thought of a question: ---Why would great-grandpa give Ye Anping the Sect Master Token?
That was the token of the Bright Star Sect leader. Since ancient times, it had been an inherited spiritual item that would only pass from one sect leader to another. Why would it be given to an outsider like Ye Anping?
In addition, Ye Anping had previously said that her great-grandfather's life was about to end.
"..."
Rumble---
Within the tribulation cloud reflected in Zu Lingzhi's eyes, lightning circulated, spreading like snakes, and she had a bad feeling.
Did her great-grandfather have the idea of "fighting to the death" with the leaders of the Magical Poison and Hedonistic sects?
"Great-grandfather... No, I can't help him now. Focus on the present... Focus on the present."
Zu Lingzhi realized that even if she understood everything, she could not change anything. She quickly shook her head and cleared her mind.
Elder Cao had asked her to protect Ye Anping.
Then, she would rush over to protect him.
But, then again...
"Why does he have to go through the Nascent Soul tribulation at this time!!! It's so annoying--!!"
Zu Lingzhi cursed at the tribulation cloud above the Middle Peak, but her voice was drowned out by the explosive roaring of spells on the twelve peaks of the Bright Star Sect.
Rumble---
The golden flying sword rode the wind and soon arrived above the Medicine Hall on the Middle Peak.
The Medicine Hall was now deserted. The Elders seemed to have taken their disciples to move the precious pills to White Jade City on the top of the mountain, preparing to resist the invading demonic cultivators and poisonous insects.
Standing on the flying sword, Zu Lingzhi looked around. She used the Distant Vision technique to search for any low-level disciples that were left behind.
However, when her gaze swept over the spiritual flower field behind the Medicine Hall...
Boom---
A poisonous centipede hundreds of feet long emerged from the mud in the flower field, but after several blood-red sword lights swept past it, it turned into black fog before dissipating.
Zu Lingzhi saw that someone seemed to be fighting with demonic cultivators, so she quickly gripped the sword in her hand and flew toward the flower field.
...
Swish---
The blood-colored sword swept across the skinny man's chest, splattering blood everywhere and staining the surrounding snow-white flower petals.
Gu Mingxin gripped her sword backward, immediately switching the sword path. After splitting the chest of the Head Insect diagonally, she added a horizontal chop to cut it in half.
However, the next moment, the Head Insect's body, which was divided into four pieces, was pulled back to its original shape by the white mucus.
Twenty minutes had passed since they met in the courtyard filled with white spiritual flowers.
Gu Mingxin was getting impatient.
She had a demonic-blood body and was naturally not afraid of any poison, but poison was the most powerful attack method of Toxic parasite cultivators.
The Head Insect could only control those poisonous insects with claws and teeth, and deal with her with the most primitive method of biting to warn her off.
Even though she held the sword in her left hand, a Nascent Soul Toxic parasite cultivator could not pose any threat to her.
However, it was the same for her.
During this time, she had already cut the Head Insect into pieces dozens of times, but each time she cut him open, his body would reassemble again.
At this rate, the fight would not end even in ten days and ten nights.
Swoosh---
After smashing another scorpion-like poisonous parasite with several blows, Gu Mingxin retreated several feet away and held the sword behind her back, narrowing her red eyes as she let out a long breath.
"Huuu..."
Seeing that Gu Mingxin had stopped, the panting Head Insect calmed down his breath and smiled. "Miss Gu, there'll be no end to our fight like this!!! I still have a mission to complete. We are both disciples of demonic cultivation, how about we discuss the terms?"
Gu Mingxin twisted her neck a bit, as if she had just been playing around, and then raised the sword in her left hand, weighing it. "Speak."
"...Miss Gu, my mission is to take away the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect in the chaos created. If you don't chase me, I will pretend I didn't see you, okay?"
Gu Mingxin was taken aback.
She had thought that this Head Insect was here to deal with the Bright Star Sect, but she did not expect the Magical Poison Sect Patriarch to send him to capture Ye Anping.
She couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Pfft--"
"Miss Gu, why are you laughing?"
"That Six Eyes of the Magical Poison Sect asked you to catch Ye Anping? Did he eat too many bugs and now his brain has been eaten by them?"
Gu Mingxin glared at him with a ferocious smile on her face. "Ahahahaha... How can you be so confident to catch him when you have such a hard time dealing with me?! Ahahaha-- I'm going to die of laughter~~ Ahahaha."
"..."
Then, the laughter stopped abruptly.
Gu Mingxin waved her sword to the left, and the ferocious smile on her face disappeared instantly as if she had changed her face. She squinted at him, saying, "Head Insect, I've had enough fun, so it's time for you to die. Xue'e..."
Xue'e?... Head Insect narrowed his eyes, sensing something was wrong. He clenched his right hand behind his back and crushed a toxic worm-like parasite as long as a finger.
In an instant, the soil in the flower field surged, and eight earthworms nearly ten feet long broke out of the soil and rushed toward Gu Mingxin from eight directions.
At the same time, Xue'e, who had been floating above them, raised her small hand, pointed at the Head Insect below, and softly called out, "Ah Mang, swallow him..."
However, just when Xue'e had uttered these words...
---"Sister, don't panic!! I'll help you!!!"
A delicate voice came from above and behind Gu Mingxin. Eight spirit swords flew down with vigorous energy from the sky and headed straight for the eight earthworms, nailing them into the mud of the flower field.
Zu Lingzhi, who came on her flying sword, formed the sword finger in front of her chest and shouted, "Summon!!"
Boom--!
Eight bolts of lightning descended from the sky and went through the hilts of the eight spiritual swords, turning those earthworms into dust.
Zu Lingzhi jumped off the flying sword and landed in front of Gu Mingxin. She blocked Head Insect with her body, turned her head to look at Gu Mingxin's confused expression, and said seriously, "Sister, go and recover your spiritual power first, I will deal with it..."
However, before she could finish speaking...
Four long fangs protruded from the soil under the Head Insect's feet.
Seeing it, Head Insect immediately realized what was under his feet, but it was too late when he reacted.
Snap---!!
The black python hiding underground suddenly closed its mouth, trapping dozens of feet of spiritual flowers around the Head Insect into its mouth.
The fierce wind brought out by the snake's mouth closing blew away the double-ring bun on top of Zu Lingzhi's head.
Zu Lingzhi froze when she saw the snake head that suddenly swallowed that Nascent Soul demonic cultivator.
However, after recalling what she had just seen, she realized that the "sister" she had saved was holding a blood-colored spiritual sword.
Crimson spirit swords were rare, and most of them were bred with blood.
Immortal Family cultivators would not use this kind of sword.
Zu Lingzhi's eyes focused, and she immediately turned around, raising the sword in her hand and waving it behind her.
Ding---
Sparks exploded.
Gu Mingxin raised the sword in her left hand to block the sneak attack, then brought her face close to hers, showing a little hostility in her eyes. "Do you know Ye Anping? Are you familiar with him?"
At this moment, Xue'e floated down and waved her hand to let Ah Mang return to the ground, then sized up Zu Lingzhi. "Mingxin, she probably thought you were a disciple of the Bright Star Sect, that's why she came to help you. Ye Anping probably doesn't know we're here."
"Is that so..." Gu Minxin felt a little disappointed, but she still smiled. "Thank you for your help, Sister. I'm here to find Ye Anping, it has nothing to do with those demonic cultivators..."
Whoosh---
A silver sword light swept past, pulling down a small strand of hair beside Gu Mingxin's ear.
Zu Lingzhi quickly jumped away and stepped on her flying sword, hovering in the air. While she was vigilant about the black python that had poked its head out from the ground, she used her spiritual sword and spells to hit Gu Mingxin below.
"What's wrong with this girl?!"
Boom---
...
On the streets of White Jade City, the disciples of the Bright Star Sect were busy helping the wounded to recover and distributing antidote pills against poison.
In the street, Feng Yu Die stood foolishly in the middle of the busy crowd, staring blankly at the sky.
Silver strands fluttered in the wind.
Her golden eyes reflected the dark tribulation clouds gathering in the sky, as well as endless worry.
"Young Master Ye..."
Xiao Tian, who was lying on Feng Yu Die's head, looked at her worried face and touched her forehead, comforting her. "Yu Die, it's okay. Anping came to the Bright Star Sect to form his Nascent Soul. He has it all planned out."
"...Yeah."
Feng Yu Die nodded and came back to her senses. She saw that Pei Lianxue and Xiao Yunluo had already gone far away, so she prepared to chase after them. However, just as she took a step forward, she felt her heart throbbing. She widened her eyes and turned to look west. "Xiao Tian..."
Xiao Tian, who was lazing around, seemed to have also sensed the aura of the Heavenly Demonic Scroll. She stood up quickly and waved her fist.
"Yes, Yu Die, it's the black guy!"
Seeing that Xiao Tian confirmed her thoughts, Feng Yu Die couldn't help but look up at the tribulation clouds in the sky again.
Young Master Ye was preparing to undergo the first Nascent Soul lightning tribulation when Gu Mingxin happened to appear here...
She suddenly had a bad premonition.
Feng Yu Die bit her lip and watched Pei Lianxue and Xiao Yunluo head toward the Heavenly Pavilion. After hesitating for a moment, she quickly summoned her flying sword, heading straight toward the west.
"We can't let her get to Young Master Ye, or else..."
Just as she left the ground, Xiao Yunluo, who was walking in front, suddenly turned around and saw that she was about to leave on her flying sword. Looking puzzled, she shouted, "Second Idiot!! Where are you going?!"
"Sister Xiao, you guys don't mind me. Just help Young Master Ye and guard the Heavenly Pavilion!!"
Seeing Feng Yu Die leave White Jade City without looking back, Xiao Yunluo was about to say something but stopped. After a moment, she turned to Pei Lianxue. "Lianxue, should we follow..."
Pei Lianxue hesitated, then took out her little notebook and flipped through it.
Before Ye Anping went to see Zu Yuan, he had prepared a lot of tips for her for almost every situation and wrote down the methods to deal with almost any unexpected situation.
However, there was no such situation as "Second Idiot suddenly ran away".
Pei Lianxue lowered her eyes and pondered for a while, then said, "Brother said before that if he needs to pass the tribulation and the demonic cultivators invade the Bright Star Sect at the same time, I have to guard in front of the Heavenly Pavilion. There will definitely be demonic cultivators who will try to infiltrate the Heavenly Pavilion and hinder him from transcending the tribulation."
"Ah... okay."
Xiao Yunluo hesitated but said nothing and continued to follow Pei Lianxue toward the Heavenly Pavilion.
...
Rumble---
Lightning flashed through the dark clouds as a golden flying sword rose from White Jade City, breaking through the air and clouds and heading straight for the medicinal field on the mountainside.
Feng Yu Die rushed ahead on her flying sword, her long silver-white hair blown straight by the strong wind.
She gripped the sword she borrowed from Xiao Yunluo, feeling a little nervous.
Previously, she had faced Gu Mingxin twice in the Northern Region and the Central Region. If Ye Anping had not foreseen the situation in advance, she would have died under Gu Mingxin's sword.
She wasn't keen to face Gu Mingxin again.
However, Sister Pei had said something in the side hall.
While Young Master Ye formed his Nascent Soul, there would definitely be demonic cultivators who would take advantage of the situation and attack him. They would have to set up a magical formation around the Heavenly Pavilion to last at least until he got past the first Nascent Soul lightning tribulation.
In the past, it was Young Master Ye who had always protected her, but now...
No one was allowed to hinder Young Master Ye from forming his Nascent Soul!!
Feng Yu Die took a deep breath and gripped her sword tightly. Controlling the flying sword, she increased its speed, and in a moment, she arrived above the medicinal field on the mountainside.
Just as Feng Yu Die was looking around, searching for Gu Mingxin's figure...
Boom---
A dragon-like lightning bolt descended from the sky and smashed directly onto the flower field on the other side of the hill.
"Eh?"
Feng Yu Die froze for a moment, then immediately rushed over on her flying sword. Just as she flew over the mountain ahead, she saw that the blood-colored spirit sword in Gu Mingxin's left hand had already reached in front of Zu Lingzhi's neck.
---"I've already told you, I have nothing to do with those demonic cultivators!"
---"Hiss--"
Feng Yu Die's eyes widened, and she immediately raised her sword and used the force of her flying sword to move forward. Instantly, a white light appeared in the air.
Zu Lingzhi saw the blood-colored sword approaching her neck and held her breath, desperately trying to raise her head to dodge, but she found that she could not dodge anymore. She involuntarily closed her eyes and screamed.
"Ah--!!"
Unexpectedly, there was a crisp sound of metal striking, and Zu Lingzhi felt as if she had been hugged by someone who landed steadily in the flower field.
She opened her eyes slightly, only to see an exquisite face with fluttering silver hair and a pair of golden eyes firmly looking ahead.
Zu Lingzhi felt her cheeks burning. She pursed her lips and shifted her gaze, whispering, "Ah... Miss Feng... many... many thanks."
Feng Yu Die took a moment to look at Zu Lingzhi in her arms. Seeing that she was fine, she put her down, then took a step forward and swung the sword in her right hand to the side.
Rumble---
A bolt of lightning tore through the churning clouds and illuminated two figures, one black and one white, standing on either side of the snow-white flower field.
